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Chapter 136
~Valerie’s POV~
The mont I pushed open the dorm room door, I knew sothing was off.
It was too quiet, more like too synchronised.
All three girls—Isla, Erald, and Astraea—were seated by the kitchen counter like they were in the middle of so witchy intervention.
Each one had a mug in hand. No one sipped. They just stared like I was the last puzzle piece they’d been dying to slap into place.
"Uh," I blinked, kicking off my sneakers. "Did I miss a eting or sothing?"
"Where have you been?" Isla asked first in a casual tone, but her eyes were a little too curious.
I wiped at the sweat on my brow. "I went for a jog. Nothing major. Why? Aren’t we allowed that anymore?"
A beat of silence passed over everyone before Isla tilted her head slightly. "Hmm. Did anyone co to the dorm before you left?"
My brows furrowed. "No? Why?"
She shrugged. "I just... I thought I heard so noise. Voices or sothing."
I froze for a second.
Shit.
Solstice.
My heartbeat stumbled a little, but I smiled quickly, pushing the thought away. "Oh! That was ," I lied, way too smoothly. "I was on a call with my friend. Early riser."
I put on the perfect smile, recalling one of the fun monts Solstice and I had as kids.
Isla humd thoughtfully, then gave a small nod like she believed . I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
"I’m gonna take a quick shower," I added, slinging my hand towel over my shoulder and heading toward my room.
"Didn’t you just shower this morning?" Erald’s voice floated after . "I heard the bathroom running earlier."
I froze again—mid-step. I almost forgot our rooms were just a wall apart.
Damn it.
I had forgotten Solstice’s very loud shower.
I blinked once, twice, trying to rember how I’d played that out in my mind. "Did I?" I repeated dumbly.
The silence was awful.
Then Isla laughed, nudging Erald playfully. "Em, she just went jogging. Even if she bathed earlier, she’s probably all sweaty now."
"Oh. Right," Erald muttered, sipping her tea again.
I offered a sheepish smile, ntally thanking the moon for Isla. "Yeah. Exactly. Sorry, I forgot. I’ve got so much on my mind."
"So much," Astraea echoed, finally looking up from her seat. Her brows arched just a little. "Or... soone?"
I looked at her, scrutinitsed her to make sure those words didnt co from jealousy of so sort.
I paused, opened my mouth to speak but nothing ca out.
That was all it took—three girls. One mont. Total silence.
I could feel it—the shift in their mood, like they already knew what I hadn’t said.
"You know I sll him on you, right?" Astraea said softly, but her eyes sharpened. "Ace. One of the Lycan twins."
My stomach dropped. Isla’s mouth parted slightly. Erald blinked at .
"We can tell," Erald added. "Where his hands were. Where his scent lingered. So, unless you plan to lie again, maybe explain?"
I opened my mouth, then looked at Isla instinctively.
Her expression wasn’t angry. But it wasn’t... easy.
She looked almost disappointed. The kind that said she wasn’t mad, just quietly sad and probably because I did not end up with Dristan instead.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Girls, I tripped. He caught . That’s all. I didn’t realise his scent would cling so strongly. We barely spoke afterwards."
Erald smirked. "You sure you didn’t cling back?"
"Em," Isla said gently.
Astraea just kept watching , like she didn’t quite believe it but wasn’t ready to push further.
I didn’t bla them. The tension between Dristan and the others was already complicated. Add Ace into the mix, and this wasn’t just a trip-and-fall mont anymore.
But I had no intention of justifying sothing that wasn’t even a thing.
"Anyways," I said firmly, brushing past them, "we’ve got a big day ahead. General training. Full guild engagent. I’m not about to waste energy defending a non-event."
Erald snorted. "Non-event, huh? I’ll bet Dristan doesn’t think so."
I didn’t flinch this ti. I just looked her dead in the eye and said with a smirk, "Then he should step up."
That shut them up.
I turned and walked toward my room, still clutching my towel, heart beating far louder than I liked.
Because they weren’t wrong.
I could feel Ace’s presence still clinging to —not just his scent, but the heat from where he held . The subtle way he looked at .
And as much as I tried to brush it off, it was... sothing.
I didn’t know what yet, but it was sothing. I’d be a fool to think there was nothing there. Ace was my mate too, and just like his brother and the other heirs, they all want .
And maybe that scared more than falling.
Or maybe what truly scared is how I was going to let six n, six possessive alphas, ravage my body with their sexual desires.
This should be fun... not!
I didn’t want to scream and got into the shower instead while my chest heaved at the thought of what the Moon Goddess possibly ant with that.
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~Author’s POV~
PSA Academy—Front Courtyard & Main Hall
Solstice walked through the front gates of PSA like she’d done it a thousand tis before.
Her hoodie was zipped halfway, light grey fabric blending effortlessly with the faint mist that lingered over the courtyard.
Her sneakers made no sound as she stepped onto the white stones, and her face was angled slightly down, not too shy or confident—just enough mystery to be ignored.
And she wanted to be ignored.
Today wasn’t for standing out. Today was for slipping in.
She passed through groups of students without drawing a single lingering stare, except one—from a shy-looking boy leaning against the east pillar, nose deep in a map of the school.
Vampire.
She knew it from the scent: old blood, cool, pale skin, and barely interacted. Though not all Vampires did that, he stood out.
Solstice paused, gave a soft smile that blood gently at the corners of her eyes, and tilted her head. "Hey," she said sweetly. "Good morning. It’s my first day. Could you point toward the principal’s office?"
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